War in Congo- Trapped in a spiral of violence

S09 E01 • Saturday, Jan 4, 2025 • Jan 4 • 1h 26m

Life between hearing and deafness

S09 E02 • Sunday, Jan 5, 2025 • Jan 5 • 26m

Is the sea swallowing up the land?

S09 E03 • Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025 • Jan 8 • 43m

The intestine- The body's underappreciated control center and gut health

S09 E04 • Thursday, Jan 9, 2025 • Jan 9 • 43m

The intestine is a true marvel. This organ’s complex functions extend far beyond the mere processing of food. The intestine affects the immune system and also has a powerful effect on our emotional well-being.

A childhood between Togo and Munich - In search of the truth

S09 E05 • Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 • Jan 11 • 43m

Pure luxury or bitter poverty - Living on a roof

S09 E06 • Sunday, Jan 12, 2025 • Jan 12 • 26m

The dilemma of international egg donation: going abroad for a baby

S09 E07 • Tuesday, Jan 14, 2025 • Jan 14 • 29m

For some women, getting pregnant is only possible through egg donation. It’s a pathway to parenthood with children who aren’t biologically their own. While egg donation is legal in many countries, it’s banned in places like Switzerland and Germany. This film takes a compassionate look at the impact of this medical dilemma and the laws that often make little sense to the people who are affected by them. Why is sperm donation allowed in so many places, but not egg donation? Why do donors in so many places have to remain anonymous, even though it could cause emotional problems for the children? The film also shows that with an empathetic approach, it’s possible to avoid trauma and help children and families navigate this complicated journey.

Cambodia - How microcredit is making the world's poor even poorer

S09 E08 • Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 • Jan 15 • 43m

In the shadow of trauma- Life after Auschwitz

S09 E09 • Friday, Jan 24, 2025 • Jan 24 • 43m

Gas from Africa- Europe’s search for new suppliers

S09 E10 • Saturday, Jan 25, 2025 • Jan 25 • 52m

Challenges, heartache and confidence: Stories from Eastern Europe

S09 E11 • Thursday, Jan 30, 2025 • Jan 30 • 43m

Should we bring extinct species back to life?

S09 E12 • Thursday, Feb 6, 2025 • Feb 6 • 43m

All around the world, scientists are working to recreate lost animal species such as the mammoth. Using modern genetic techniques, they’re extracting ancient genetic material from museum exhibits. However, these practices are also attracting criticism. Biology researchers question the usefulness of revived species for natural habitats. They fear that the excitement surrounding the idea of bringing back extinct species could distract people from the many problems that cause animals to disappear, in the first place. Are some scientists playing God - with unforeseeable consequences for the environment?

How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security

S09 E13 • Friday, Feb 14, 2025 • Feb 14 • 43m

Teenagers of Donbass: Growing up in war

S09 E14 • Friday, Feb 14, 2025 • Feb 14 • 1h 25m

Saving beavers and pond turtles

S09 E15 • Sunday, Feb 16, 2025 • Feb 16 • 26m

Haiti- The iron grip of the gangs

S09 E16 • Friday, Feb 21, 2025 • Feb 21 • 43m

The fight for water in Bangalore

S09 E17 • Wednesday, Feb 26, 2025 • Feb 26 • 43m

Africa‘s tech pioneers- Innovative solutions for a sustainable future

S09 E18 • Thursday, Feb 27, 2025 • Feb 27 • 43m

Ten of the world's fastest growing economies are located on the African continent. Companies in the field of science and innovation are being promoted. Climate-friendly ideas for the future are already being realized in African countries. However, climate change caused by industrialized nations in the northern hemisphere poses a particular threat to Africa. Of the almost 1.5 billion Africans from 54 countries, as many as 117 million people could be at risk from rising sea levels in 2030. By 2100, Africa’s total population could be around 3.8 billion. One solution under consideration is to build a floating city in Lagos, Nigeria, that can adapt to the consequences of climate change.

The American abortion war

S09 E19 • Friday, Feb 28, 2025 • Feb 28 • 43m

In the USA, abortion rights are tearing the nation apart. Abortions are banned in the state of Texas, but that's not enough for anti-abortion activists. They go even further -- and encounter resistance. The film follows one of America's leading abortion opponents, Mark Lee Dickson, in Texas. He wants to prevent women from traveling to another state for an abortion. Dickson and his followers believe that abortion is always murder. They do not even accept the birth control pill. They believe that life begins with the union of sperm and egg. As a result of Texas' strict abortion policy, clinics offering abortions have had to relocate to neighboring New Mexico. How do the bans affect women? And what is it like to work as a doctor who performs abortions? The film examines questions like these. But the film also shows that there is resistance to Dickson's campaigns, including a women's group that opposes the ultra-conservatives.

Life in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest

S09 E20 • Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 • Mar 5 • 43m

Canada's Great Bear Rainforest is a place where the rainforest and Pacific Ocean meet. This special forest is home to countless spruce and fir trees. One very special species towers above them all, giving many animals shelter: the giant arbor vitae, or ‘Tree of Life’. Forest and ocean live in symbiosis here. When heavy rainfall erodes the soil, nutrients are transported through the rivers to the sea, where they benefit the humpback whales. Nowadays, however, this complex ecosystem is threatened by massive logging. Here, too, humans are jeopardizing a balance that has existed for thousands of years.

The coronavirus pandemic and its consequences

S09 E21 • Sunday, Mar 2, 2025 • Mar 2 • 1h 26m

Uganda - Protheses for a new life

S09 E22 • Sunday, Mar 9, 2025 • Mar 9 • 26m

Climate protection from moors

S09 E23 • Sunday, Mar 16, 2025 • Mar 16 • 26m

Peatlands bind more carbon than forests. But in Germany, almost all the country’s natural peatlands have been drained. Now, they’re emitting greenhouse gases. People around the world are currently working to rewet the moors - while keeping them usable for agriculture.

Rivers ans risk- Water crisis on four continents

S09 E24 • Saturday, Mar 22, 2025 • Mar 22 • 1h 30m

Water is scarce, but global demand continues to rise. Humanity is facing serious disputes over our most important resource. What impact is our lifestyle having on our planet's water cycles? Along six rivers on four continents, the documentary explores the question of why this vital resource, water, is becoming increasingly scarce - and who’s responsible. 70 per cent of fresh water is used in agriculture. Around 20 per cent of global water pollution is caused by the textile industry. The film provides rare insights into Indian factories and life in the places where contaminants are discharged. But it’s not all bad news. In the film, we also meet people who’ve come up with solutions.

The return of vultures to Europe

S09 E25 • Tuesday, Mar 25, 2025 • Mar 25 • 29m

Some twenty years ago vultures were close to extinction in much of Europe. Since then, the birds have been successfully reintroduced in parts of Germany, Spain and France. They may be back, but vultures still face many dangers.

Luxury clinic for valuable horses

S09 E26 • Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 • Mar 26 • 26m

The film explores the work of one of Europe’s largest and most modern equine clinics, where the specialist vet meets clients with great expectations, and an even greater love for their horses.

Panama - Navigating crises at the canal

S09 E27 • Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 • Mar 27 • 42m

Panama's famous canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. But, this important gateway for world trade is increasingly blocked. Cargo ships often have to wait weeks for passage, because water levels in the canal are too low. The cause? Drought.

Agribusiness in the USA - The dark side of productivity and profitability

S09 E28 • Wednesday, Apr 2, 2025 • Apr 2 • 43m

In the USA, agriculture is dominated by two magic words: productivity and profitability. The two million farmers in the United States are impressive businessmen. But their agribusiness is causing great damage. Oversized farms, fattening facilities and pesticides: when it comes to producing more and more, almost anything goes. On cattle fattening farms in the Midwest, thousands of animals are crammed into stalls without a single blade of grass, fattened up and treated with growth hormones. Here, industrial methods are taken to the extreme. In California, carrots, artichokes and strawberries are grown on huge plantations. But this west coast grower’s paradise is struggling with extreme water shortages. Water is pumped from rivers, reservoirs and groundwater reserves at great expense. Faced with a desperate water shortage, farmers are working at breakneck speed -- even if it means that the region's inhabitants have no access to drinking water.

Tracking pandemics: Detecting new diseases early

S09 E29 • Sunday, Apr 6, 2025 • Apr 6 • 26m

Corona, AIDS and the Spanish flu have claimed many millions of lives. Now, researchers around the world are trying to better predict and prevent pandemics like these in the future.

Hackers, malware and the darknet

S09 E30 • Thursday, Apr 10, 2025 • Apr 10 • 43m

Cyberspace is less secure than ever before. Hackers exploit human error or technical loopholes to steal data -- or publish it on the darknet, if the ransom demanded is not paid. It’s a practice wiith catastrophic consequences. In the film, victims and their relatives talk about how their lives have been impacted by cyberattacks. Company bankruptcies, loss of pension insurance, even suicide - the consequences can be fatal. In the film, viewers also hear from a hacker, who explains how straightforward it is to deprive people of their data.

Pirates - Simple sailors or brutal thieves?

S09 E31 • Tuesday, Apr 1, 2025 • Apr 1 • 52m

Life after violence and explotation- The dark side of sex work

S09 E32 • Sunday, Apr 13, 2025 • Apr 13 • 26m

In 2002, a law was passed in Germany to legalize sex work as a service. The change in the law presupposes that people offer sexual services voluntarily and that they are of legal age. However, the reality is often different. Also, there have been fewer investigations into human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. But many women are afraid to testify, says Helmut Sporer, a former senior criminal investigator in the field of sex work and human trafficking.

The global organ trafficking network

S09 E33 • Monday, Apr 14, 2025 • Apr 14 • 23m

On the internet, the offer looks very serious: a start to a new life without dialysis, with a new kidney in just a few weeks. A glimmer of hope for seriously ill people who have been waiting for years for a donor organ. Behind it all is a notorious network of international organ traffickers. We have been following the trail for months. At the center is a transplant clinic in Eldoret, Kenya, where patients from Germany and Israel in particular meet donors from countries in the Caucasus such as Azerbaijan. There are also young Kenyans who are persuaded that they are getting a good deal at 4,000 euros for a kidney. Recipients pay up to €200,000 ($222,000 USD) to organ traffickers. There are many indications that local authorities are looking the other way and that politicians are covering up the trade.

Camel racing in Egypt

S09 E34 • Saturday, Apr 19, 2025 • Apr 19 • 1h 4m

Eternal Life? The secrets of the centenarians

S09 E35 • Sunday, Apr 20, 2025 • Apr 20 • 26m

In the villages on Sardinia's east coast, people live longer than almost anywhere else in the world. But why? Is it due to nutrition? The good weather? Or genetics? Scientists around the world are attempting to solve the mystery.

The life of Pope Francis and its most important moments

S09 E36 • Monday, Apr 21, 2025 • Apr 21 • 26m

In March 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina was elected 266th Pope, the first South American to become spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. He set out to reform the Vatican and the papal office, advocated climate protection and inter-religious dialogue.The name he chose toi be known by refers to St Francis of Assisi. Following "the little poor man’s” example, Bergoglio wanted a "poor church for the poor". In memory of Pope Francis, Deutsche Welle is rebroadcasting the feature "Pope Francis — A Shepherd in the Storm.” On the occasion of the Pope's 85th birthday in December 2021 our report was an opportunity to take stock of his pontificate. What was this Pope able to change and reform; where were his limits? How did he lead the Catholic faith community through a time marked by crises and scandals?

Dr. Sanduk Ruit’s Himalayan mission

S09 E37 • Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025 • Apr 22 • 29m

Sanduk Ruit has devoted his life to healing as many cataracts sufferers as possible. The Nepalese doctor, who himself comes from a modest background, wants to ensure high-quality surgery for patients living in grinding poverty - even where there is no hospital in the vicinity. The 70-year-old and his team have now treated well over 100,000 people with cataracts. This documentary accompanies Sanduk Ruit to an extremely remote region of the Himalayan Mountains, where every 12 years the Dolpo region of Nepal hosts the Shey Festival at an elevation of over 4,000 meters. It’s a centuries-old cultural event, which is rooted in Tibetan Buddhism and draws people from far and wide - and for the doctor, a perfect opportunity to treat a large number of patients in one location.

A sperm donor and his 30 children

S09 E38 • Wednesday, Apr 23, 2025 • Apr 23 • 43m

Francis - A pope for the poor and the marginalized

S09 E39 • Friday, Apr 25, 2025 • Apr 25 • 43m

The papal appointment of Argentine national Jorge Mario Bergoglio wrote history. For the first time, a non-European and Jesuit had been made head of the Catholic Church. He was also the first Pope to take the name Francis. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order, is venerated as patron saint of the poor. Pope Francis was drawn to his example and tried to emulate his qualities. The film, broadcast in March 2014 one year after Francis took office at the Vatican, compares the story of Francis of Assisi with the actions and deeds of the Pope. He was - just like his role model - a man of peace and dialog. He advocated for a merciful Church; even in pre-papal years as a priest in Argentina. The film shows that throughout his life, he never forgot the poor and the marginalized.

Orlando- The dark side of the world's theme park capital

S09 E40 • Saturday, Apr 26, 2025 • Apr 26 • 43m

With dozens of theme parks, Orlando is seen as a paradise for fans of attractions and rollercoasters. But the shiny, fairytale world also has a lesser-known, darker side. Negligent safety measures have resulted in accidents, some of them fatal. In one accident in 2022, a teenager tragically died on the Free Fall ride. And for park employees, life in the Sunshine State of Florida is often far from rosy. Many struggle to survive on minimum wage, while others are homeless.

The Vietnam War

S09 E41 • Sunday, Apr 27, 2025 • Apr 27 • 51m

Using original and archive material, the film tells the story of the Vietnam War, beginning with the Indochina War and liberation from the colonial power France to the 1990s, when relations with the USA were finally normalized.

Bioplastics and other innovations against climate change

S09 E42 • Monday, Apr 28, 2025 • Apr 28 • 26m

Researchers from various disciplines are determined to fight climate change. At Kassel University in the German state of Hesse, for example, research is being carried out on a new method of producing concrete that is low in CO2 emissions. In the neighboring city of Giessen, two researchers invented bioplastic - by chance. What began with a forgotten petri dish is now set to revolutionize the region’s packaging industry. All these examples show how science is working hard to protect the climate. The film takes viewers into the laboratory -- and explains the relevance of today's research for how we’ll be living our lives tomorrow.

Nigerian communities vs. Big Oil

S09 E43 • Tuesday, Apr 29, 2025 • Apr 29 • 29m

The Niger Delta in Nigeria is one of the most polluted areas on earth - due to repeated oil spills. Environmentalists, scientists and lawyers are working together to restore the damage and seek justice for local residents.

Germany’s rivers are dying - Pollution, extinction and the fight for clean water

S09 E44 • Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 • Apr 30 • 43m

Most of Germany’s rivers are in poor condition. Pollutants from industry and agriculture contaminate the water and lead to algal blooms and species die-offs. Environmental advocates and riverbank residents are fighting for more protection for waterways.

How our relationship to work is changing

S09 E45 • Thursday, May 1, 2025 • May 1 • 43m

According to estimates, Artificial Intelligence and automation will replace a large proportion of the global workforce in the coming decades. So, it's time to look for concepts for a post-work era. Based on interviews with people in Kuwait, Italy, the USA and South Korea, the film examines the human relationship to work and explores the question: What will we do, when we no longer have to work?

Buthan- Back to the roots, with a Buddhist monk

S09 E46 • Friday, May 2, 2025 • May 2 • 43m

Son of the Mullah- Escape from Iran

S09 E47 • Saturday, May 3, 2025 • May 3 • 1h 26m

Danger from the North Sea- The search for explosive ordnance from WWII

S09 E48 • Sunday, May 4, 2025 • May 4

Hitler's Reich- Diaries of Nazi supporters, opponents and victims (1/4)

S09 E49 • Monday, May 5, 2025 • May 5

1945- The world after World War Two

S09 E50 • Wednesday, May 7, 2025 • May 7 • 43m